Impact of body tilt on the central aortic pressure pulse.

The present work was undertaken to investigate, in young healthy volunteers, the relationships between the forward propagation times of arterial pressure waves and the timing of reflected waves observable on the aortic pulse, in the course of rapid changes in body position. 20 young healthy subjects, 10 men, and 10 women, were examined on a tilt table at two different tilt angles, -10° (Head-down) and + 45° (Head-up). In each position, carotid-femoral (Tcf) and carotid-tibial forward propagation times (Tct) were measured with the Complior device. In each position also, the central aortic pressure pulse was recorded with radial tonometry, using the SphygmoCor device and a generalized transfer function, so as to evaluate the timing of reflected waves reaching the aorta in systole (onset of systolic reflected wave, sT1r) and diastole (mean transit time of diastolic reflected wave, dMTT). The position shift from Head-up to Head-down caused a massive increase in both Tct (women from 130 ± 10 to 185 ± 18 msec P < 0.001, men from 136 ± 9 to 204 ± 18 msec P < 0.001) and dMTT (women from 364 ± 35 to 499 ± 33 msec P < 0.001, men from 406 ± 22 to 553 ± 21 msec P < 0.001). Mixed model regression showed that the changes in Tct and dMTT observed between Head-up and Head-down were tightly coupled (regression coefficient 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.9-2.3, P < 0.001). These results strongly suggest that the diastolic waves observed on central aortic pulses reconstructed from radial tonometric correspond at least in part to reflections generated in the lower limbs

Immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies in stroke

The role of immunity in all stages of stroke is increasingly being recognised, from the pathogenesis of risk factors to tissue repair, leading to the investigation of a range of immunomodulatory therapies. In the acute phase of stroke, proposed therapies include drugs targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and leukocyte infiltration, with a key objective to reduce initial brain cell toxicity. Systemically, the early stages of stroke are also characterised by stroke-induced immunosuppression, where downregulation of host defences predisposes patients to infection. Therefore, strategies to modulate innate immunity post-stroke have garnered greater attention. A complementary objective is to reduce longer term sequelae, by focusing on adaptive immunity. Following stroke onset, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier is compromised, exposing central nervous system (CNS) antigens to systemic adaptive immune recognition, potentially inducing autoimmunity. Some pre-clinical efforts have been made to tolerise the immune system to CNS antigens pre-stroke. Separately, immune cell populations which exhibit a regulatory phenotype (T and B regulatory cells) have been shown to ameliorate post-stroke inflammation and contribute to tissue repair. Cell-based therapies, established in oncology and transplantation, could become a strategy to treat the acute and chronic stages of stroke. Furthermore, a role for the gut microbiota in ischemic injury has received attention. Finally, the immune system may play a role in remote ischemic preconditioning-mediated neuroprotection against stroke. The development of stroke therapies involving organs distant to the infarct site, therefore, should not be overlooked. This review will discuss the immune mechanisms of various therapeutic strategies, surveying published data and discussing more theoretical mechanisms of action that have yet to be exploited

Natriuretic Peptide Receptor B modulates the proliferation of the cardiac cells expressing the Stem Cell Antigen-1.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) injections in adult "healthy" or infarcted mice led to increased number of non-myocyte cells (NMCs) expressing the nuclear transcription factor Nkx2.5. The aim of this study was to identify the nature of the cells able to respond to BNP as well as the signaling pathway involved. BNP treatment of neonatal mouse NMCs stimulated Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cell proliferation. The Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cells were characterized as being a mixed cell population involving fibroblasts and multipotent precursor cells. Thus, BNP treatment led also to increased number of Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cells expressing Nkx2.5, in Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cell cultures in vitro and in vivo, in the hearts of neonatal and adult infarcted mice. Whereas BNP induced Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cell proliferation via NPR-B receptor and protein kinase G activation, CNP stimulated Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cell proliferation via NPR-B and a PKG-independent mechanism. We highlighted here a new role for the natriuretic peptide receptor B which was identified as a target able to modulate the proliferation of the Sca-1 <sup>+</sup> cells. The involvement of NPR-B signaling in heart regeneration has, however, to be further investigated

Elastic behaviour of the carotid artery in intact spontaneously hypertensive rats

Intact spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied to assess the effect of prolonged antihypertensive treatment on the elastic behaviour of the external carotid artery. Thirty-week-old SHR received the ACE inhibitor captopril, the ateriolar dilator hydralazine or their vehicle for 6 weeks. These rats were compared to normotensive, vehicle treated WKY rats. The internal diameter of the carotid artery was measured continuously in halothane-anaesthetized rats using an echo-tracking device, and intra-arterial pressure was also monitored continuously, on the controlateral side. Captopril- and hydralazinetreated SHR as well as normotensive controls had similar blood pressure values. No significant shift in the distensibility-pressure curves was observed among vehicle-treated SHR and WKY rats or the SHR which had received captopril or hydralazine. Histological examination of the carotid artery fixed ex vivo with paraformaldehyde showed a significant increase in cross-sectional area in vehicle-treated SHR as compared to their normotensive counterparts. These results therefore suggest that the elastic behaviour of elastic arteries is not necessarily altered by the structural changes developing in response to hypertensio

Combining Conservation & Development

Madagascar is a land of contrasts, from the every day humid rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula, to the rough and sharp peaks of the Tsingy de Bemaraha, to the marshes of Lake Tsimanampetsotsa. And its people are equally divers, from Zebu keeper of Morondave, to the fisherman of the Lake Alaotra, to the rice cultivators of the Fianarantsoa. An even more impressive diversity can be found in the rich wildlife with its unique endemic features. Nevertheless, all these peculiarities are under enormous pressure. Human needs for natural resources such as wood for charcoal, bushmeat for protein supply or land for crop cultivations and cattle farming are putting deep, unsustainable impacts on the Malagasy environment. Conservation and development issues are becoming more and more important. Consequently the idea of a forum for the exchange of experiences and knowledge in the respective fields has arisen. Thanks to the positive feedback and the many contributions from researchers and organisations working in Madagascar, Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC) and the Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland (JGI Switzerland) are able and happy to present the first issue of the new journal MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT – the MCD journal. The journal’s editorial board is constituted of experts from different disciplines, organizations and universities, which are all involved in conservation or development work in Madagascar.Thanks to the board members voluntary work and extra hours, the professionalism of the numerous reviewers and the many contributions of the authors, this issue has become reality. The editors are proud to present already a broad variety of contributions ranging from scientific articles about reptile conservation, to the presentation of solar ovens as an alternative to charcoal use, to an essay about the fifteen years of NEAP (National Environmental Action Plan). MCD also presents an interview with three Malagasy women involved in different ways in the CPALI (Conservation trough Poverty Alleviation) Wild Silk Project. To keep this journal on a high standard for the future issues MCD encourages all young researchers and development workers, especially Malagasy scientists and conservationists, to contribute to this journal. Further, it is crucial that the readers provide feedback and tell their colleagues in conservation and development fields about this journal. This will give the journal a chance to become a viable forum of exchange of knowledge and technologies for Madagascar. The journal MCD is launched as an open source journal. The limited accessibility of the World Wide Web in Madagascar forces MCD to be also available as printed edition. To cover layout, printing and distribution costs MCD hopes to place in future (more) advertisements and announcements in the journal from the private sector. Sponsorships and funds will be very welcome and necessary. The journal will be distributed to universities, libraries, publishers and other suitable organisations, and of course any individuals interested in the field

Peroxynitrite is a major trigger of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

Recent evidence indicates that peroxynitrite represents a major cytotoxic effector in heart diseases, but its mechanisms of action are still not known exactly. Notably, the ability of peroxynitrite to trigger cardiomyocyte apoptosis, a crucial mode of cell death in many cardiac conditions, remains poorly defined. We evaluated apoptotic and necrotic cell death in cultured H9C2 cardiomyocytes, following a brief (20 min) exposure to peroxynitrite (50-500 microM). Peroxynitrite-dependent myocardial toxicity was then investigated in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR), where the effects of peroxynitrite were blocked by the superoxide dismutase mimetics and peroxynitrite scavenger Mn(III)-tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP). In vitro, peroxynitrite killed cardiomyocytes mostly through apoptosis (DNA fragmentation, apoptotic nuclear alterations, caspase-3 activation, and PARP cleavage), but not necrosis (propidium iodide staining and LDH release). In vivo, MIR triggered myocardial oxidative stress (malondialdehyde generation), nitrotyrosine formation, neutrophil accumulation, and the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, indicating ongoing myocardial apoptosis. MnTBAP suppressed these alterations, allowing a considerable reduction of myocardial injury. Thus, peroxynitrite triggers apoptosis in cardiomyocytes in vitro and in the myocardium in vivo, through a pathway involving caspase-3 activation and the cleavage of PARP. These results provide important novel information on the mechanisms of myocardial toxicity of peroxynitrite

Human high-density lipoprotein particles prevent activation of the JNK pathway induced by human oxidised low-density lipoprotein particles in pancreatic beta cells

Aims/hypothesis: We explored the potential adverse effects of pro-atherogenic oxidised LDL-cholesterol particles on beta cell function. Materials and methods: Isolated human and rat islets and different insulin-secreting cell lines were incubated with human oxidised LDL with or without HDL particles. The insulin level was monitored by ELISA, real-time PCR and a rat insulin promoter construct linked to luciferase gene reporter. Cell apoptosis was determined by scoring cells displaying pycnotic nuclei. Results: Prolonged incubation with human oxidised LDL particles led to a reduction in preproinsulin expression levels, whereas the insulin level was preserved in the presence of native LDL-cholesterol. The loss of insulin production occurred at the transcriptional levels and was associated with an increase in activator protein-1 transcriptional activity. The rise in activator protein-1 activity resulted from activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK, now known as mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 [MAPK8]) due to a subsequent decrease in islet-brain 1 (IB1; now known as MAPK8 interacting protein 1) levels. Consistent with the pro-apoptotic role of the JNK pathway, oxidised LDL also induced a twofold increase in the rate of beta cell apoptosis. Treatment of the cells with JNK inhibitor peptides or HDL countered the effects mediated by oxidised LDL. Conclusions/interpretation: These data provide strong evidence that oxidised LDL particles exert deleterious effects in the progression of beta cell failure in diabetes and that these effects can be countered by HDL particle

Decrease of deforestation in Protected Areas of Madagascar during the Covid-19 years

Deforestation poses a significant threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study focuses on estimating the deforestation within Protected Areas (PAs) in Madagascar over a 21-year period from 2001 to 2022. A novel methodology utilizing remote sensing data and specific thresholds of tree canopy density is employed to estimate annual deforestation rates and identify trends and patterns within PAs. The analysis reveals significant deforestation in the PA network over the last decade, particularly in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Notably, the lowest annual deforestation rates were estimated during the Covid-19 years of 2020 (0.66%), 2021 (0.62%), and the subsequent year in 2022 (0.67%) when considering the entire network of 103 PAs with natural forests from 2013 to 2022

Fingolimod reduces hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed tissue plasminogen activator treatment in a mouse thromboembolic model

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonist fingolimod reduces infarct size in rodent models of stroke and enhances blood-brain barrier integrity. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that combination of fingolimod with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) would reduce the risk of hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed administration of tPA. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of fingolimod in a mouse model of thromboembolic stroke, in which both the beneficial effect of reperfusion associated with early tPA treatment and hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed administration mimic clinical observations in humans. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that fingolimod treatment attenuates the neurological deficit and reduces infarct volume after in situ thromboembolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Combination of fingolimod and tPA improves the neurological outcome of the thrombolytic therapy and reduces the risk of hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed administration of tPA. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the protective efficacy of fingolimod as a treatment against ischemic stroke in another rodent model of stroke (thromboembolic occlusion), and suggests that fingolimod could potentially be used in combination with tPA to reduce the risk of brain hemorrhage

Decrease of deforestation in Protected Areas of Madagascar during the Covid-19 years

Deforestation poses a significant threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study focuses on estimating the deforestation within Protected Areas (PAs) in Madagascar over a 21-year period from 2001 to 2022. A novel methodology utilizing remote sensing data and specific thresholds of tree canopy density is employed to estimate annual deforestation rates and identify trends and patterns within PAs. The analysis reveals significant deforestation in the PA network over the last decade, particularly in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Notably, the lowest annual deforestation rates were estimated during the Covid-19 years of 2020 (0.66%), 2021 (0.62%), and the subsequent year in 2022 (0.67%) when considering the entire network of 103 PAs with natural forests from 2013 to 2022.   Résumé La déforestation constitue une menace importante pour la biodiversité mondiale et les services écosystémiques. Cette étude se concentre sur l'évaluation de l'efficacité des aires protégées (AP) pour lutter contre la déforestation à Madagascar sur une période de 21 ans, de 2001 à 2022. Une méthodologie novatrice utilisant des données de télédétection et des seuils spécifiques de densité du couvert arboré est employée pour estimer les taux annuels de déforestation et identifier les tendances et les modèles au sein des AP. Au cours de la dernière décennie, l'analyse révèle une déforestation significative dans le réseau des AP au cours de certaines années, notamment en 2014, 2017, 2018 et 2019. En revanche, il est intéressant de noter qu'entre 2013 et 2022, les taux annuels de déforestation les plus bas ont été estimés pendant les années de Covid-19 en 2020 (0,66 %), 2021 (0,62 %) et l'année suivante en 2022 (0,67 %) sur l’ensemble du réseau des 103 AP avec des forêts naturelles